New rates go into effect July 1

After years without any fee increases the Mesquite Recreation Center's new rates go into effect today.

A citizen committee was formed at the end of 2013 and met to discuss whether the rec center's cost recovery of 62 to 68 percent was good enough or if fees needed to be raised. In the end the committee made the decision to raise fees for all parties, local and non local. The group also raised fees for other Athletic and Leisure Services departments as well.

When changing the fees for Mesquite residents, there was some debate as what being a "local" meant during the committee's meetings. The group agreed being a local meant living inside the Mesquite city limits; meaning Bunkerville would be excluded from the local list.

Previously, the city has received an Outside Agency Grant from Clark County that helped to offset fees and allowed non-Mesquite residents, but still living inside Clark County, to be charged the same fees as locals. The non-local fees only applied to those who lived outside Clark County.

At the time, the grant had been applied for, but not yet approved. So when non-local fees went up Bunkerville residents were facing a massive price difference from what they had been paying.

Thankfully, the grant was approved so anyone living inside Clark County will pay the local fee.

The committee also installed a new age group into the system — seniors 62 years old and over.

Chairwoman Kathy Bussman said many seniors under are still working and therefore not on a fixed income. She suggested they be charged the same as adults instead of the youth fee and seniors 62 and over pay the same as the youth.

All these changes were approved by City Council.

The rec center fees for locals, starting today, are as follows:

Daily:

Youth/Seniors 62 and up: $3

Adult (19-61): $6

Family: $30

Monthly:

Youth/Seniors 62 and up: $25

Adult: $38

Family: $60

Lifelong Fitness Pass: $40

6-month pass:

Youth/Seniors 62 and up: $75

Adult (16-61): $120

Family $175

Annual:

Youth/Seniors 62 and up: $120

Adult (16-61): $200

Family: $270

Corporate pass: $165

Any fee increases for the rec center will go into a maintenance fund specifically for the rec center.

Other fees went up as well for athletic venues, field prep, the Mesquite campus room rental, pavilion rental at the parks, equipment rental, advertising, and a fee was installed for the senior center.

Starting today to use a ball field it will cost non-profit organizations $150 and for-profit $175. The set up fee is $110 for-profits and $100 for non-profits. An extra fee of $55 an hour for for-profits and $50 an hour for non-profits will be charged for every hour over 16 hours of use. The lights per-hour fee will cost for-profits $30 and non-profits $25.

Field striping for synthetic fields will now cost $275 for for-profits and $250 for non-profits; for grass fields it will run for-profits $220 and $200 for non-profits. For-profits will also pay $25 for concession stand use.

Advertisers will see an increase in their ad costs on ball field fencing. The committee voted to raise the fee from $250 to $300.

For-profits will pay $35 hourly to rent a room at the Mesquite Campus.

Pavillion costs did not change for non-profit groups. However, for-profits will pay $25 for 1-50 people for three hours; $55 for 50-99 people for 3 hours and $85 for 100 or more people with a minimum of four hours.

Equipment rental won't cost non-profits either. If a for-profit organization wants to rent the public address system it will cost $165 a day, a mobile stage is $435, tables and chairs will be $220 and a supervisor after 9 p.m. will be $55 an hour.

The senior center fee was installed to off-set costs from people who come in and just hang out at the center all day. This fee in no way impacts the meals served by the senior center.

The annual fee will be $20 or residents may choose to pay a $5 quarterly fee.